Champagne is generally associated with feelings of euphoric excess and the special occasions that prompt them -- New Year's Eve celebrations, weddings, birthdays, promotions. Even if you're in the mood to splurge, a large crowd or a tight budget can prompt the pursuit of cheap Champagne. From France to Spain, Italy, and California, there's enough excellent bubbly to go around for $10 or less. The challenge lies in knowing what you're buying. We considered online reviews and ratings from a variety of sources and consulted a wine expert to come up with our top picks.

If you think cheap white wine is only for grandma's spritzer, think again. There's a white wine -- costing no more than $10 to satisfy almost anyone's palate. Inexpensive white wines can complement a range of foods, brighten up a lazy summer afternoon, and make an excellent substitute for pre-dinner cocktails. White wines typically present fruity and/or floral flavors and aromas, sometimes offer a bit of spice and earthiness, and range in sugar content from bone dry to dessert-level sweet. We've made top picks based on tastings, ratings, reviews, and awards, on top of expert advice, and suspect wine drinkers will find at least one selection to suit both their sipping preferences and their budget.

Who needs a premium red wine when a thoroughly respectable bottle costs $10 or less? Frugal quaffers who know even a little bit about wine and aren't afraid to go with what they like will find many such bottles. There are hundreds of cheap red wines out there -- some barely worth the few dollars you'd pay but many worth drinking. With so many styles, grape varieties, producers, and labels to choose among, shopping can be a challenge. To guide wine drinkers through the thicket, we've made top picks based on tastings, ratings, reviews, awards, and expert advice. We've also selected a wide array of other inexpensive red wines fit to serve with a meal, bring to a party, or sip over the course of a quiet evening.

With just about two weeks left till Christmas, many shoppers are scrambling to find just the right gift for everyone on their holiday lists. If you're among them, don't sweat it. Our latest buying guides are full of ideas, from cheap and easy items from the dollar store to gifts every foodie will love to useful stocking stuffers to gifts for pets, there's something for everyone. Still unsure? Our guide to stores with the most and least generous return policies can make purchasing any gift less stressful. And if all the running around this holiday season has you wondering just how many miles you're racking up, check out our guide to the best, cheap fitness trackers, which can also help focus your fitness goals in the new year. Also new on the blog this week: smart tax moves to make before year-end, how to put your family on a budget, incredible gingerbread house displays across the continent, and more. Updated Buying Guides: Best Cheap Champagne. A buying guide to cheap champagne -- more properly known as sparkling wine -- that can do a celebration proud for less than $10 a bottle. New and Updated Blog Posts: 19 Cheap Holiday Gifts for Pets. Here are 19 holiday gift ideas that furry friends are sure to appreciate. Pet owners will take delight in them, as well. 11 Hangover 'Cures' Debunked. All those alleged hangover cures are little more than myths. There's only one cheap and simple cure that works. Top Fitness Trackers Under $50 to Get You Moving. Get fitter faster with top-rated fitness trackers under $50. Measure calories and get motivated to be more active throughout the day with instant feedback. 25 Delectable Gifts Under $25 for Foodies. From onion goggles to truffle oil, these cheap and practical gifts will keep the gourmet sated and happily cooking all year long. 12 Stocking Stuffers They'll Actually Use. Don't waste money by waiting until the last minute to buy stocking stuffers. These great, practical ideas start as low as $2. 10 Smart Tax Moves to Make Before the End of the Year. Taking steps such as making charitable donations, contributing to a 401(k), and making an extra mortgage payment before the end of the year can help lower 2015 taxes. 10 Toast-Worthy Sparkling Wines for $10 or Less. Any of these 10 budget-priced and flavorful sparkling wines will add festive good cheer to holiday celebrations -- and also deserve a place at the table year-round. 11 Ways to Put Your Family on a Budget for the New Year. Start the new year right with these 11 budgeting tips to get your financial house in order and help your family get on the right path. 12 Holiday Gifts You Can Get at the Dollar Store. Whether you're shopping for family, friends, or co-workers, dollar stores are a convenient source for inexpensive holiday gifts. 16 Incredible Gingerbread House Displays That Are Worth a Trip. Elaborate and mostly edible, these 16 gingerbread houses are anything but tame. Plan a trip, check out the displays, and maybe even take a piece home. 25 Places to Go for Spectacular New Year's Eve Fireworks. Catch the New Year's Eve fireworks displays in these 25 places, many of which also host free and family-friendly activities to usher in 2017. Love Chocolate? 10 Places You Have to Try the Hot Cocoa. Whether you're in New York, Chicago, or Austin, gourmet hot cocoa is a great way to warm up -- here are some of the best cups of liquid heaven across the country. Best 'Main Street' Shopping Districts in All 50 States. Here are 50 great places to shop while enjoying small town scenery, setting, people, and pace, all far, far away from crowded, chaotic megamalls. 10 Stores With Strict Return Policies. Some retailers are more forgiving about returns during the holiday season, but these 10 stores have strict return policies every shopper should know. 13 Stores With Amazing Return Policies. Holiday shopping is stressful enough without having to worry about returning an item. These 13 stores offer generous return policies -- and peace of mind. 11 Inexpensive Winter Cruises to Sunny Destinations. Winter can be exactly the right season to land a huge bargain on a getaway cruise to someplace warm and sunny like the Bahamas or Puerto Vallarta. 8 Ways to Give to Charity and Get a Tax Break for 2016. Tax-deductible donations to charity pay off personally and financially. Here are eight tips for claiming tax savings in 2016. 15 Inexpensive Ways to Make Overnight Holiday Guests Feel at Home. A few minor touches such as slippers and extra towels can make a huge difference in the comfort level of overnight holiday guests -- and their hosts.

Stocking up on Cold Medicine without Going Broke

Are you sniffling, sneezing, and basically feeling awful? We've all been there. With winter comes the inevitable colds and flu, and that's just how it is. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu season peaks in January and February and getting a flu vaccination in September or October is the best way to arm yourself. While a shot may protect you against the actual flu, there are still plenty of other illnesses circulating in the dry, cold winter air.

Over-the-Counter Medicine.

First things first. According to WebMD, nothing actually cures a cold -- not over-the-counter medicines and not antibiotics. That said, certain cold medicines can relieve symptoms and in some cases may shorten the duration of the illness. The problem is, it's hard to predict what will work for you. Colds and flu affect each person differently and cold medicines also work differently in everyone, so you may need to try out several before settling on one.

In general, reports the Mayo Clinic, over-the-counter medicine like decongestants (Sudafed), pain relievers (Advil, Tylenol), and antihistamines (Tylenol Cold or Flu, Benadryl) can relieve cold and flu symptoms, and zinc has been proven to benefit people suffering from a cold. Some non-medical commentators favor Airborne (an herbal immune formula), zinc lozenges, vitamin C, a humidifier, and Zicam for fighting and relieving cold and flu symptoms.

Where to Get Cheap Cold Medicine.

Whichever remedy you choose, there's no need to pay full price for cold and flu relievers.

Budding extreme couponers, this one's for you: The Grocery Game advises "stacking" deals at grocery stores or drug stores to get the best price on over-the-counter medicine. For those of us who aren't practiced in the art of extreme couponing, Teri Gault, CEO of the site, explains that deal stacking means buying an item on sale and adding a coupon and other deals, such as register rewards, which can be used like cash for future purchases or for in-store rebates.

But if you aren't going to bother with all that, at the very least Gault recommends using a coupon during an ongoing sale -- not much of a challenge given that cold medicine is frequently discounted during the winter. Using coupons wisely can even beat online and warehouse club prices, Gault adds.

Here are some other tips from Gault to help you catch the best deal on cold and flu medicine:

Stock up when your favorite product is on sale; most cold medicine is good for two years, but double-check the expiration date to make sure it will still be good when you need it.

Buy generic if it's cheaper; the FDA requires that generics/store brands contain the same active ingredient/drug as the name brand.

Check the drug manufacturer's website for coupons.

If you have a coupon, use it on the smallest package when it's on sale to get the item dirt cheap, or in some cases, free.

Final Thoughts.

In addition to cold medicine, the Mayo Clinic recommends cheap/free cold and flu relievers such as plenty of water and fluids, including chicken soup, which may have anti-inflammatory and mucus-thinning properties. You can also try saline nasal drops and a cheap humidifier, which adds moisture to the air that can help fight cold viruses and relieve cold and flu symptoms such as scratchy throats and stuffy noses.